Structural imitation of natural objects.



B. W. GATES. STRUCTURAL IMITATION OF NATURAL OBJECTS. APPLICATION FILED AUG .19, 1914.

Patnted Aug. 17, 1915.

- A mail/A COLUMBIA PLANOIJRAPH CO.,WASHINGTON, D. c.

; orr e B RNARD W. G T S, 1 WAS DIS RICT O C L M IA,-

STRUC'IUBAL 'I'MITATION OF NATURAL OBJECTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD W. Games, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Structural Imitation of Natural Objects, ofwhich the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ornamental objects and more particularlyto structural imitation of natural objects such as twigs, reeds, branches, vines, stems, etc., together with the method of making the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a structure which is simple in construction, readily manipulated, neat and attractive in appearance, and which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost;

To these and other ends, the natureof which will be readily understood as the in--.

vention" is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in. the improved construction and combination of parts and the method of- Construction of the same described, illustrated inthe accompanying hereinafter fully drawings,- and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of theviews, Figure lyisa perspective view of one form of theinvention representing a portion of a vine, said view also showing twigs or thereto, parts being broken away to show more clearly the manner in which the twigs or branches are secured in position. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the invention in the form of the stem of a flower. Fig. f is a cross-sectional view of the stem of Fig. 8. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing a different way in which the twigs or branches may be secured to a vine. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the structure of Fig. 1 showing a portion in its untwisted state. y

The present invention employs approximately two paper and a supporting member which is sufliciently rigid to provide a proper support, but which is preferably non-resilient, and which may be somewhat ductile in charactor.

The paper element is formed twisted and V Specification of Letters Patent.

branches secured 7 elements in its construction, v1z

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

App1ieation filed August 19, 1914. Serial No. 857,509

preferably of a plurality of such twisted portions, those portions being simultane ously twisted with the supporting member, the la-tter being in the form of one or more wires which are inclosed during the twisting action of the strands. I

In the drawings, '10 designates the'paper elements, formed of a plurality of the paper members 1'0". These members which constif tute a sheath, may be either twisted or crinkled, but when formedinto the finished product they are twisted together. The support oracle is indicated as in the form of a wire 11, somewhat ductile in order that whenthe article is adjusted to the desired shape it will retain that shape, this being a particular advantage where the article is employed in festooning, etc.

By reason of the twisting together of the members 10%,]: am able to provide for the ready attachment of the structures intended etc., whichto form twigs, branches, leaves, may be employed, since it is necessary only that the particular section of the article which is to receive the stem be simply un-' twisted slightly to present an orifice or pocket enabling the twig or the like to be inserted between the outlines within the inte rior of the article, after which the parts are again twisted, leaving the surface unalteredgiving the" appearance-of the twig or branch naturally springing from the vine.

Better resultswi'll bepbtained h? free ends of the twigs, leaves, etc., are previously treated with an adhesive.

In the drawings, the stem of the twig or leaf is indicated at 12, including a wire core 12 the inner end of said stem being infolded within the twisted portions 10 as more particularly shown in Fig. 1. This particular means of securing the twig is sufficient for normal conditions and service. greater security is desired, the wire core 12* may be formedin the shape of a small hook which can he slipped over the core or support 11 while the paper element is untwisted, the re-twisting substantially locking the hook against disengagement.

As will be obvious, the twisting of the crinkled or twisted members, if somewhat loose, will provide for an uneven surface,so that if paper of the proper color is employed a very close imitation of the natural vine can be produced'and ina form which will enable the auxiliary branches, etc., to be readily secured in position without materlally affecting the twisted relation of the arts.

p If the members 1O be tightly twisted together about a single supporting member, as exhibited in Fig. 3, a close approximation of a stem of a flower or the like is produced, the tight twisting giving the smoother appearance and insuring greater rigidity of the stem. When this form is employed, suitable incisions are made in the paper with an awl or the like, whereupon smaller stems 13 of leaves, etc., having been previously treated with an adhesive, may be inserted in the said incisions.

An important feature of novelty of this invention and one which, so far as known, differentiates it from the art as understood is that one main stem may be utilized in the construction of many difierent'types of vines or plants, so that when used, either for ornamental or decorative purposes, it will only be necessary for the decorator to have in stock numerous designs of leaves, branches and the like in order to produce an accurate simulation of the plant desired. This highly advantageous and practical re-' sult is secured by the novel manner of assembling the stems of the leaves with the main stem. or parent stock, whereby with but slight labor and no danger of injury, the leaves simulating one type of vine or flower may readily be removed and substituted by other leaves imitating an entirely different species of plant. Whether the ends of the leaf stems are held assembled with the parent stem merely by the gripping action produced by the contractile action of the sheath members,

stems is immaterial as regards the ease with or the latter assisted by the employment of an adhesive on the leaf which the leaves may be detached from or combined with the main stem in the production of any type of plant desired.

Since the paper employed is comparatively inexpensive, as are the core elements, it will be readily understood that the struc ture can be manufactured at a low cost, the apparatus employed being of a simple type, or the structure. may be formed manually in a simple manner.

While I have shown and described ways in which the invention may be carried out, it will be readily understood that the same may be varied and changed to meet the various exigencies of use, and I desire to be understood as reserving the right to make such changes or modifications therein as may be found necessary to meet such conditions in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. An artificial vine or reed composed of a plurality of twisted strands of paper twisted together spirally about a central core of pliable non-resilient metallic wire.

2. An artificial vine or reed composed of a plurality of twisted strands of crumpled paper twisted together spirally about a central core of pliable non resilient metallic wire, and auxiliary parts secured to said vine, the stems of said parts being held between contiguous surfaces of said twisted strands.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BERNARD WV. GATES. Vitnesses: N. CURTIS LAMMOND,

RUSSELL L. STEVENS.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

